Beyond the Horizon: Daily Devotions for Seniors

By Harry A. Renfree

The fastest growing age group in the United States and Canada is seniors. As seniors go through the trials and tribulations that come with their advancing years, they are seeking peace, comfort, and hope. Beyond the Horizon contains a treasure chest of devotions that focus on these areas. This positive, encouraging book contains a compilation of devotional thoughts based on actual devotions presented to a group of seniors by a senior.
The devotions follow a daily format. Included are devotions for Christmas, Easter, Valentine's and other special days. Beyond the Horizon is written in a straightforward style, making use of pertinent, thought-provoking illustrations to engage the interest of the reader. The numerous Scripture references are used effectively to clarify, enhance, and extend the theme of the devotions.
These inspirational devotions will strengthen you and bring an increased consciousness of God's daily presence in your life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Release date: Feb 9, 2016
• ISBN: 9781498232265

Harry A. Renfree

Harry A. Renfree pastored churches in eastern and western Canada and served as executive minister for his denomination in those regions. In recognition of his accomplishments, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree. He also earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky. Upon retiring to his native British Columbia, Dr. Renfree wrote an extensive history of Canadian Baptists, along with his many other endeavors.

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Beyond the Horizon

Daily Devotions for Seniors

Harry A. Renfree

Edited and Compiled by Gordon H. Renfree

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Beyond the Horizon

Daily Devotions for Seniors

Copyright © 2016 Gordon H. Renfree. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permissions, Wipf and Stock Publishers, 199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3, Eugene, OR 97401.

Resource Publications

An Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers

199

W.

8

th Ave., Suite

3

Eugene, OR

97401

www.wipfandstock.com

paperback isbn: 978-1-4982-3225-8

hardcover isbn: 978-1-4982-3227-2

eisbn: 978-1-4982-3226-5

Manufactured in the U.S.A.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®

Copyright©

1973

,

1978

,

1984

,

2011

by Biblica, Inc.™

Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

WWW.ZONDERVAN.COM

Table of Contents

Title Page

Preface

Acknowledgments

Fear or Hope?

A Double Future

Something New

Sufficient Grace

From the Beginning

Keep Looking

Decisions

The Greatest Satisfaction

Trust

Immortality

Walking With God

A Glorious Vista

Have Patience

The Ways of God

Good Sportsmanship

Dependable Promises

Reminded

A Singing Light

Misunderstood

Can We Change?

The Fruit of My Labor

What About Tomorrow?

An Honest Servant

Favorites

Every Christian Has a Cross

Looking to the Creator

The Wings of a Dove

A Tax on Sunshine

Enlightened Eyes

Is Your Life Flat?

Houses and Homes

Knowing Everybody but God

Reaching for the Stars

The Central Figure

What Is Love?

Why Don’t You Come in, All of You?

A Superior Woman (Part One)

A Superior Woman (Part Two)

Spiritual Signs

The Bible . . . God’s Word

Time and Eternity

Out of the Blue Comes the Whitest Wash

Reverence

The Footsteps of Thy Soul

St. Valentine’s Day

Sharing Similarities

Going off the Map

How Do You Stop a Volcano?

Try Something You Can’t Do

Why Not Ask?

Calmed Fears

Open Your Hand

Our Advocate

Trustworthy—Absolutely

Targets

Work to Do

Discipleship

Real Steeple chasing

Do It for Somebody Else

Sacrifice

Believing Impossible Things

Then Jesus Came

Against Wind and Tide

Our Duty

Cocoons

Self–Made

Dreams . . . and God

A Quiet and Holy People

My Brother

A Sign of Spring

Out of Ashes, a New Life

A Woman Called Deborah

Relationships

We Would See Jesus

Care and Prayer

The Importance of Little Things

Confused by Grace

Seeds

Gentle Peace

Knowing God

Come, Let Us Bow Down

Facing Problems

The Ten Commandments

Not Always What They Seem to Be

Cheerful Music

Surprised by Joy

Darkness and Light

Redeemed

Jesus or Judas

Caring to a Careless World

Last Words?

The Light Is on Again

Missing the Master?

A Foolish Cross

Greater Love

Remember to Forget

Broken Crystal

Heart Music

Foolish Man

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Sympathy’s Sustaining Bread

Faith Plus

Taxes

Aim High

I Tell You the Truth

The Unspoken Word

A Homing Experience

Signs

Signs 2

Well Done

About Greatness

Just Not My Day

Mary Magdalene

Pass It

False Hopes

Where Is God?

Our Legacy

Changing the Course of History

Seniors with Experience

Naomi

Ruth

A Fine Honor

Growing, Though Weary

Songs of Praise

Obstacles

Memories

New Opportunities

True Freedom

Just Ask

God’s Laugh

Plumb Line over the City

Ethics

Reading the Manual

The Prodigal Son

The Proper Son

When We Suffer

Life’s Most Important Lesson

A Consuming Passion

An Encouraging Word

Walking the Right Way

A Knock on the Door

A Suffering, Singing Heart

Blowing the Future

The Christian Citizen

The Dark Before the Dawn

God’s Handiwork

Twisting the Truth

Dreams Die . . . Hope Brightens

On the Rails

For Others

A Strong Tower

Ambassadors for Christ

A Scarecrow in a Melon Patch

Love in Action

Bits of Time and Opportunity

Savior

For Ballplayers and Others

Noble Character

The Supreme Pearl

The Eternal Dimension

Needed Pardon

We Matter

Reaching Out

Like Jesus

Humble Men and Women

The Quality of Love

Good News

A Happy Face

Be Perfect

Closed Doors, Open Doors

The Sun Has Come Out Again

Worthy of Our Calling

The Lawnmower Has Been Eaten

Coolness & Balm

God, Are You Listening?

Removing Rocks

The Race of Life

Losing Our Freedom

In the Hands of the Master

Sowing Seed

Integrity

Bread on the Waters

Prayer for the Nation

Where We Live

A Perspective on Living

Permanent Treasures

Changed Lives

Faith in Action

Life’s Struggles

Servant of the Lord

Do You Want to Be Well?

What You Do; What You Are

Color Blue

A Good Conscience

Give Me This Mountain

God’s Assurances

My Grace Is Sufficient

The Face of God

Growing and Running

The Quality of Giving

A New Religion

Being Forgiven

On the Sea of Life

A Famine of Hearing

Unknown

Good News

Little Notes Which Like Each Other

Prayer and the Call of God

Does God Answer Prayer? (Part One)

Does God Answer Prayer? (Part Two)

I Believe

Role Models

Try the Up-Look

Putting Our Best Into Life

No Light at the End of the Tunnel

Known to Him

Doors

Making a Difference

Walking to Emmaus

God Lost?

Personal Witness

Changeable

Treasures—Old and New

Competing According to the Rules

Living Water

A Parable of Life

Training

Accompanied by the Master

Perseverance

Christ’s Vineyard

Retired

No Time to Listen

A Work of Art

Life’s Meaning

Sharing

Self–Sacrifice

Encouragers

A Ministry of Mercy

True Beauty

Our Reason for Hope

Ode to Joy

Stop the Frantic Search

Measuring Another

Together for Good

Thank God for Something to Do

Impressing

Bobby

Building Bridges

Insight

Struggles in Life

Very Special People

Giving Up Too Soon

Tests

Whatever Happened to Responsibility?

Testing the Vibrations

A Mirror Maze of Self–Pity

Go and Do It for Somebody Else

Pass It On

Does God Believe in Me?

Comfort When Hurting

Someone to Love Me

Loving Others

Filthy Rags

The Human Cry

Where Do You Want to Go?

God Laughs

Nearer Than Hands or Feet

Win a Bushel of Bucks

Towering O’er the Wrecks of Time

Cold Iron

Like a Little Child

Twisted Morality

In the Crises of Life

Fit to Play God’s Music

Do As I Have Done

Thanks for New Life

A Feeling of Uncertainty

Mastering the Difficulties of Growing Old

Singing Again

Music in the Soul

Stuck

Thank Him

Small Forces

Peace and Quiet

God’s Hand in Ours

Deep Roots

Enjoyment to the Full

Come in Here With Me

Wailing Walls

The Empty Cross

Does Jesus Care?

Early Failure

Peace Not of This World

Forgiveness

Caring

Sitting On It

Please Sound the Note

Blest Be the Tie

The Process of Making New

Reconciliation

Cling and Wait

Peer Pressure

The Peace of God

The Road of the Loving Heart

The Capacity to Love

The Sound of Your Name

Entertaining Angels—Without Knowing It

Crisis

Will You Have a Cup of Tea?

Humble Service

Proclaiming

Victorious Over Suffering

Sacrifice and Honors

Well Done!

The Supreme Sacrifice

The Final Peace

Sharing

Prayer Like a Telephone

Doing For Others

Faith in God

Glory in the Cross

God’s Caring

Meekness

A Staggering Finish

A Striking Conversion

Thanksgiving Day

Outreaching Love

Letters

The Silence of God

Press On

Leave Me My Men

Time and Eternity

High Ways Are By–Ways

With Jesus

Andrew and I

Going the Second Mile

River of Delights

Gold or God

Is That All There Is?

Faith’s Good News

Trust and Faith

An Overgrown Path

At The Door

Flower of Holy Night

Taking Notice

Comfort Ye

Have We Forgotten?

Because He Lives

Doing Christmas Right

Kneeling in Prayer

Expectations

Trees

Willing to Share

The Greatest Golden Text

A Wheelbarrow for Christmas

Through the Furnace

Caring for Each Other

Let Your Light Shine

Doing Without the Baby

No Vacancy

The Key

Hopelessness

Humility

Our Need: a Savior

Missed

Why Don’t You Lay Down Your Load?

Notes

To my father, whose spiritual legacy carries on

through the lives of his family

and through the pages of this book.

Preface

I come from a family of teachers. I had uncles who were teachers, my grandmother was a teacher, my only two siblings were teachers, my mother was a teacher, my wife was a teacher, and I was a teacher. My father failed to see the light and became a minister. Just joking, of course.

Ministers are multi-skilled people, and one of their primary skills is teaching. My father was no exception. There’s a joke that says, Old ministers never die; they just get put out to pastor. This was actually quite true in my father’s case. For much of his ministerial life, he worked in leadership positions with his denomination, but when he retired, he made good use of his pastoral skills. In his early retirement years, he led Bible studies and filled in as interim pastor at various churches. In his later retirement years, he presented a series of devotions to a group of seniors at a seniors’ complex in White Rock, BC. Those devotions form the basis of this book.

After my father went to his eternal reward, my mother moved to a seniors’ complex in Edmonton, Alberta. After one of my visits with her, I went to get my coat from her closet and noticed a lone, small box on the closet floor. Curiosity getting the better of me, I lifted it up to see what it was. Papers written in my father’s handwriting filled the box, and I soon became aware that the papers were devotions. I asked and received permission from my mother to take them home so that I could examine them closer.

An adventure was about to begin.

How these devotions made the journey from their initial oral presentation to the publication of this book has indeed been an adventure for me. When I taught school, one of my students’ favorite series of books was the Choose Your Own Adventure series. Each book is arranged so that the reader is faced with two or three choices, each of which leads to more choices and then to one of many endings. This adventure has been somewhat like that for me. When I first looked at the devotions, I thought I would just read them with the dual goals of filling some spare time and reconnecting with my father. As I read further, I began to realize that the devotions could prove to be a blessing to others besides myself and the people who had been the original recipients of the devotions at the seniors’ complex. How could this be accomplished?

I could hire a writer and have him/her put something together, perhaps in a booklet—even a book—but that could have proved costly.

I, myself, could possibly put something together in the way of a coil bound booklet that might be of interest to family, friends, and acquaintances.

I could select some devotions and send them to publishers who put out monthly or quarterly devotion booklets.

I could send some to a religious organization that puts devotions online.

I could do nothing and just enjoy the devotions for what they were.

Or I could try to use my limited writing skills and my even more limited typing skills to put together a book.

I decided to take the more adventurous route and attempt to put a book together myself. Who knew where that would end up? I could imagine a lot of different endings—most of them not that positive—but I decided that if the Lord wanted it done, He would open the doors, so I prayed about it and the compiling of a book began.

I found it interesting that the first eight devotions were written in point form, as my father outlined his sermons, but from the ninth on, the devotions were written word for word. To me, it indicated that perhaps my father intended for them to be used later on in some other manner, or perhaps it was just his advancing years that presented memory problems. I like to think it was the former.

I began to type out the devotions. You need to understand that my typing is a very spiritual exercise since I use the biblical method of typing—seek and ye shall find. I do a lot of seeking before finding the correct keys. The original manuscript turned out to be around 127, 000 words. That was a lot of typing, and for me, that translated into many years. It took additional time to track down and verify some of the stories and to obtain permissions where required. I had to contact people scattered in many different places to accomplish this task. Communicating with those involved in the various stories turned out to be quite rewarding in its own right. The process of contacting publishers, facing rejection, and finally finding the right publisher took quite a while as well. Now here we are with the finished product. I hope that this book proves to be a blessing to you— the reader.

Acknowledgments

I have some special people to thank. Thank you to Rena Fish for her great talents and spiritual insight in the tremendous job she did with the copyediting. I would like to thank those in my family who have directly supported this project: my two brothers, John and Paul, for their encouragement and financial support and a special kudos to Paul for designing the website. And my deepest gratitude to my wife Darlene for her continual support right from the get go. She helped keep me focused when there were times of discouragement. She helped me with the many computer challenges. She was a great sounding board and supplier of creative ideas. It was through her initiative that I was able to finally find the right publisher after many rejections.

Finally and foremost, to my father who is the author of the book. The book is being published after you, Dad, have passed on to your eternal reward. God does indeed work in mysterious ways. This book underlines the spiritual legacy that each one of us can leave to succeeding generations. Our legacy may not come out in book form, but it will come out in what our children and others learn about our character and the way we live our lives.

Note: Profits from the sale of this book will be given to a scholarship fund established by my parents for students at a seminary in Cochabamba, Bolivia. More information about this fund and other information concerning the book can be found at the book website, beyond–the–horizon.info.

Gordon Renfree

Compiler/Editor

Fear or Hope?

January 01

John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892) was an American poet and staunch advocate of the abolition of slavery in the United States. One of his poems, called Child Songs, has the message about learning from children and the importance of a childlike heart.

A couple of the verses are as follows:

We need love’s tender lessons taught

As only weakness can;

God hath his small interpreters;

The child must teach the man.

Alone to guileness and love—

That gate shall open fall;

The mind of pride is nothingness

The childlike heart is all!¹

We do not really know what the New Year will bring, but we can proceed by our faith. The Psalmist was musing about some of these things and out of his musings came one of the most magnificent Psalms in the Psalter that of Psalm 8: "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens." Then this: "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise" (Psalm 8:1–2a).

Jesus Himself was similarly musing one day during His sojourn on earth. In a prayer, He said to His Father: I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children (Matthew 11:25).

The season through which we have just been passing is about a child—the Child. It’s primarily for children—young children, as well as for those who, with childlike faith, worship at the manger and then put their hand into the hand of God and move confidently into the New Year.

A Double Future

January 02

The month of January, particularly the first few days of the month, is often felt to be a time to look forward. People make New Year’s resolutions which, sad to say, are seldom kept . . . and it’s a time for planning. As I am sure most of you know, January is also a time for reflection, a time for looking at what has recently been done. The name of the month January indeed is taken from Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, who is represented as an idol with two bearded heads set back to back—looking backward and forward.

The story is told of a group of people looking back at particularly memorable moments in their lives. One talked of his first job, another of getting through university, another of being discharged from the army, and then a grandfather mentioned that his was becoming a grandparent and realizing something of him was going into the future.

Ours is a double future actually—a future that we make for ourselves and then a future in which we have an influence on others by the way we live. As C.S. Lewis puts it: The future is something which everyone reaches at the age of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, wherever he is.

God’s people in the day of the prophet Jeremiah were languishing as virtual slaves in Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon. God gave Jeremiah the message for the exiles, one of the finest moments in Scripture in Jeremiah 29:11: " ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’" How to ensure that promise? God’s message continues in verses 12 and 13: ‘Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’

Plans to give you hope and a future . . . your own and those whom you influence.

Something New

January 03

There is an interesting story concerning the history of the Royal Hotel in Calgary in 1892. At that time the Royal Hotel was the area’s most imposing structure. It proclaimed itself the finest hotel west of Winnipeg—although they hung blankets from the ceiling in place of walls. In any event, that year, 1892, the hotel became ultramodern. They installed newfangled electric lighting. They also hung a sign which read: Do not attempt to light the bulbs with a match. Simply turn key on wall by the door. The use of electricity is in no way harmful to health.

We are all a little tentative about something new, whether it’s electricity, or the latest in computer technology. We have to prove whether or not it’s better than the old way.

Early in his Gospel, Mark tells of reaction to Jesus on perhaps the first trip of His ministry to Capernaum. He taught in their synagogue and startled them with His knowledge and caring . . . he healed a man with an evil spirit. Mark writes: "The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law" (Mark 1:22). Jesus’ teaching was—and is—new.

The old Jewish law was an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Said Jesus, You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:43–44).

Indeed as the Apostle Paul puts it, the one who follows His way is a new creation . . . a new person.

Sufficient Grace

January 04

Many of you are familiar with the remarkable life of Helen Keller. As a baby, she went through a terrible illness that deprived her of both sight and hearing, and soon she became mute. When Helen was six, her parents sought the advice of Alexander Graham Bell regarding her education, and as a result, Anne Sullivan became her teacher. Through Miss Sullivan’s diligent efforts and the efforts of others, Helen Keller eventually was able to go to college and graduated with honors.

Helen Keller’s greatest achievement of course, was the help she was able to give those who were similarly disabled. Her driving force was her Christian faith.

During His three–year ministry, Jesus healed many. He opened blind eyes and cured some who were paralyzed. But He was not able to reach all of Palestine’s sick . . . nor were all able to reach Him. God still heals, but not all experience a miracle. Helen Keller’s miracle was not that she was given new sight, new hearing, but that despite the handicaps, she was able to accomplish a great deal and, in particular, to greatly help others.

The Apostle Paul, surely one of the finest Christians who ever lived, writes that he asked God three times to heal him of what he called his thorn in the flesh, and each time God responded: My grace is sufficient for you . . . and that grace is offered to each of us as we look up and out to Him. Around us we see many examples of overcoming faith, the victory that overcomes the world. As God promised the people of Asher in the Old Testament: "Your strength will equal your days"

From the Beginning

January 05

In the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, there is a verse that just fits the beginning of a new year: "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end" (Deuteronomy 11:12).

God’s people Israel had a centuries–old promise from God that one day they would possess a homeland far beyond their wildest dreams. After languishing for over four hundred years in Egypt, God had seen to their deliverance, and they were on their way to Canaan, the Promised Land. They roamed the wilderness for over forty years before their children stood on the bank of the Jordan River, hesitating before crossing into Canaan.

Here the promise of God rings in, as it were, a marvelous new year: "The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven" (Deuteronomy 11:10–11).

His promise to us in this land as we enter the new year, as surely as we place our faith in Him, is not only an earthly Promised Land, but an eternal one—which is far better. They both have Heavenly spiritual showers of blessing. We are assured that God will be with us continually . . . from beginning to end, here and in eternity, which has no end.

Poet John Oxenham’s words seem to chime in for those of us who have a few doubts.

Not for one single day

Can I discern my way,

But this I surely know,—

Who gives the day,

Will show the way,

So I securely go.²

Keep Looking

January 06

In the book Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do, Robert Schuller speaks of his boyhood on a small farm in Iowa. His family was poor, but they managed to get by in an area where the weather was not predictable. One summer the family was particularly devastated when a tornado virtually destroyed their farm. However, they remained grateful that all the family members had escaped unharmed. After the storm, they returned to survey their damaged property. Among the ruins was a sign that used to hang on the kitchen wall. Originally the sign read: Keep looking to Jesus . . . but after the tornado, broken in two, it simply said: Keep Looking.³

Keep Looking . . . a marvelous motto for a person at any stage of life particularly as one gets older.

Looking back on his life in the magnificent passage of Philippians 3, the Apostle Paul reflects on the glorious experiences he has had in serving Jesus Christ. Then he says this in verse twelve:

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect . . . But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians

3

:

12

a,

13

b,

14

).

Then he adds this bit of wisdom for you and me: All of us who are mature should take such a view of things (Philippians 3:15a).

In other words: Keep Looking!

Decisions

January 07

I’m sure you have learned to make right decisions. If you are like me, the right decisions you have made have often resulted from lessons learned from wrong decisions you had made previously. Our failures are sometimes better teachers than our successes.

Coming to the end of His ministry on this earth, with the cross looming, the Master faced a crucial decision. The task of spreading the gospel of salvation was to be left to a diverse group of His followers after His resurrection and ascension. The leader of the group, at least the spokesman, was the fisherman Simon Peter. Could he be depended upon? Peter often wavered, uncertain of himself. Jesus knew this and warned Peter that he might fail in the face of personal danger. Peter protested vehemently that he would never fail Jesus. He did . . . three times he denied his Lord before Calvary—denied that he even knew Jesus.

After the resurrection, Jesus faced Peter on the shore of the Sea of Galilee after a group of disciples had spent a fruitless night fishing. Testing him, Jesus asked if Peter really loved him. When Peter replied affirmatively, Jesus pointed out that it would cost Peter to follow through on that promise. Then Jesus said to him: Follow me. Peter hesitated; success or failure was in the balance. But Peter, aware of his failures and sorry for them, bravely faced up to them. He, of course, became Peter the solid rock, who was largely responsible for founding the first churches. So effective was his witness to his faith that after his sermon the day of Pentecost, 3,000 were won to the way of Christ.

Wrong decisions, you see, may well point the way to right decisions. Let us use some of the failures of the past to form the successes of the future.

The Greatest Satisfaction

January 08

In response to the vast human needs of global proportions, Albert Schweitzer and countless others like him have dedicated their lives to relieve suffering and to tell others of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In one of his writings, Schweitzer describes the kind of moment in his life that gave him the greatest satisfaction. A native with intense suffering was brought into his hospital. Dr. Schweitzer calmed the man by relating that he would operate and the man would soon be well and free of pain. After the operation, the caring doctor sat with the man while he was regaining consciousness. Slowly the man opened his eyes and whispered in sheer wonderment: I have no more pain. That was the moment of Dr. Schweitzer’s greatest satisfaction . . . no monetary reward there, but a deep satisfaction.

In response to the vast human need with which He was surrounded, Jesus gave what we call the Sermon on the Mount, found in which are the marvelous Beatitudes. The last few verses of chapter 4 in Matthew set the scene. News about Jesus had spread, and many brought to him people with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the epileptics, the paralytics, the demon possessed etc., and Jesus healed them. Large crowds from Galilee and beyond followed Him. Chapter 5 begins by indicating that Jesus then went up to a mountainside and began to teach the comforting words of the Beatitudes:

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled

(Matthew

5

:

3

–

6

).

Jesus remains as concerned about the sufferer today. And so are His followers, whether skilled like Albert Schweitzer or simply able like you and me to share the Master’s love and concern.

Trust

January 09

Trust is one of those precious qualities that make life so worthwhile. And yet . . . we have to admit, sorrowfully, that the mark of trust is becoming less obvious in our day. We have to trust, and yet we must be careful as to whom we trust.

God’s Word has a good deal to say about trust. For example, of Daniel, who was an administrator in the king’s service, the Bible says that his enemies tried to find something in his life for which they could criticize and destroy him. In Daniel 6:4b, these words are found: "They could find no corruption in him [Daniel] because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt, nor negligent." We wish often that we could have that kind of trust in those who govern us these many centuries later. Some are most trustworthy; others, sadly, are not. We do get an opportunity to choose—at the ballot box.

"Do not trust in deceptive words," writes the prophet Jeremiah. God’s people of ancient times were warned not to trust in the pagan power of the pharaoh of Egypt. As the book of 2 Kings 18:21 states: "Look now, you are depending on Egypt that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces a man’s hand and wounds him if he leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him." God’s people trusted Pharaoh against God’s expressed order . . . and Pharaoh let them down.

Some do let us down from time to time, but there is always One in whom we can place complete trust. Over twenty times in the Psalms, the Psalmist calls on us to put our trust in the Lord, who is fully trustworthy. He writes: "In God I trust; I will not be afraid" (Psalm 56:11a). And from Psalm 62, verse 8: "Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge."

It is marvelous to enjoy trust in one another, but surer still is the trust in our God who will never, never let us down . . . in time or eternity.

Immortality

January 10

Napoleon was visiting the Louvre gallery when a painting caught his eye. He said to the director of the Louvre, Baron Denon, who was accompanying him, That is a noble picture, Denon.

Immortal, was the reply.

How long, asked Napoleon, will this picture last?

Denon replied that with care, it might last five hundred years.

And how long, said Napoleon, "will a statue last?

Perhaps, replied Denon, five thousand years.

And this, replied Napoleon, sharply, —this you call immortality!⁴

Five thousand years is a long time for something crafted by man, but hardly a long time by God’s standards and certainly not immortal.

In 2 Peter 3:8, we read: "With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." Time and space merge with God, and the immortality of the human soul is also timeless.

Peter in his first epistle amplifies this thought as he ponders the love of God to you and me.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials (

1

Peter

1

:

3

–

6

).

Living for immortality.

Walking With God

January 11

One weekend as I was walking through the parking lot of a university campus, I came upon something that immediately caught my attention. The parking lot was only partially occupied, but in that lot was a husky young man having the time of his life by manipulating a tiny radio–controlled car. With his handheld control, he sent the car back and forth, weaving, turning, speeding, and slowing—all over the lot. He was obviously enjoying the fun and the sense of power for when I came back twenty minutes later, he was still there.

It seems to me that one might see such a scene as a parallel of life. We, like the little model car, are spinning all over the world, sometimes with purpose, sometimes without—going, coming, eating, sleeping, working, and enjoying recreation. All the while, up there is a power that watches over us so that we won’t smash up.

There’s a difference of course. We would not like it if God controlled us like the young man handled his model. We feel much better when God lets us run our own show. But most of us, in the back of our minds, want to believe that in the last analysis, God will step in if there’s a crisis.

This attitude could, I think, be described as taking God for granted. But I seem to hear the crashing interjection of the prophet Micah: "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8).

God does not want to manipulate us or to be ignored by us. He wants to walk with us. The choice is ours.

A Glorious Vista

January 12

Joseph Mallord Turner, one of the finest and most famous of British artists, lived from 1775 to 1851. Turner was something of a prodigy as a painter, and his father, a barber, is said to have sold some of the lad’s sketches when he was twelve. Turner is best known for the brilliant and lavish colors of his landscapes and seascapes.

One day, so the story goes, a lady approached Turner, objecting that she did not see such brilliant colors occurring in nature. The artist’s simple but perceptive reply was, Don’t you wish you did, Madam?

The Apostle Paul expresses similar sentiments in a brief prayer recorded in Ephesians 1:18: "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he